A substantial landslide unfolded on Sunday, August 27, in Saint-Andre, France, captured by an eyewitness who watched a portion of the mountainside plunge toward the transport corridor below. The dramatic footage shows a section of the hillside giving way and tumbling toward the road where vehicles, including cars and heavy trucks, traverse daily. Thankfully, there were no reported fatalities among those on or near the affected route, though the incident caused widespread disruption and concern for nearby communities.
Local authorities describe the event as a large-scale rockfall that originated on a slope above the RD1006 highway in Saint-Andre. Reports from La Maurienne on social media note the mass of stone involved, approximately 700 cubic meters, impacting a protective screen installed by district road services to shield the corridor in a sensitive zone. Official channels from the State of Savoie corroborate that several blocks of rock crashed onto this protective barrier, highlighting the preventative measures already in place to mitigate Erosion and downstream risk. The incident underscores the constant threat posed by unstable slopes in mountainous terrain and the importance of continuous monitoring and timely preventive work. [Citation: Prefecture of Savoie, local road services, and state authorities]
As a result, road traffic has been halted across multiple routes with no immediate restoration timetable. The A43 motorway segment between exits 29 and 30 is closed in both directions, affecting traffic traveling between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Le Fresnay. The Fréjus tunnel has limited access, restricting passage for vehicles heavier than 3.5 metric tons in directions linking France to Italy and vice versa. Additionally, rail services on the Maurienne line between France and Italy have been suspended indefinitely. These measures aim to protect drivers, passengers, and crews while engineers assess stability, monitor ongoing movement, and coordinate clearance and remediation efforts. [Citation: regional transport authorities and state emergency services]
The situation remains under close supervision by regional authorities, with constant updates issued to keep the public informed about road reopenings, detours, and safety advisories. Residents and travelers are urged to follow official channels for the latest guidance, including any changes to closure statuses or alternate routes. Emergency planners emphasize that real-time assessments will determine when the affected corridors can safely accommodate traffic again, and they remind drivers to stay vigilant for further alerts and weather-related shifts that could influence slope stability in the area. [Citation: regional emergency management offices]